This happened the other day on my way out of the office, my car decided to not start. The battery is good(12.47V), I have full power to all electronics. Yet when I turn the key to start my car, nothing happens except lights on the dashes and I can hear the fuel pump prime. I replaced the Main Relay and pulled the starter and had it tested, it passed with flying colors. I even cleaned my battery terminals when I reinstalled my starter. Is the next logical step to test my ignition? Any tips on how to do that?


** Update: See Post 14 - Replaced ignition harness, still does not crank.

 

Check your floor board for bits of plastic/rubber. If I remember right bluish purple colored. There's a switch you clutch pedal engages to open/close the start cut relay. The rubber bumper that pushes the switch gets brittle and falls apart.

 

nub, good call but I replaced those plastic arrow things last year. They are still intact and in place.

 

Turn the key to the on position, in neutral, and use a piece of wire to touch the two terminals on your starter. If it starts, it's your ignition switch.

 

OldSchool, thanks for the tip. I will go test that and get back to you guys(or gals).

 

Just got back, and was able to drive my Honda home. OldSchoolAce was right, my ignition was bad. I did some research and I found the ignition assembly for 150-400, do I need the entire assembly?

 

You might want to do some more trouble shooting before you spend money throwing parts at it hoping it fixes it.

The clutch switch could be bad. This controls the start cut relay (could also be bad) which sends power from the ignition switch to the starter.

 

Probably a good idea, do you know the proper way to test the clutch switch?

 

Unplug the 2 wire plug, blk and blu/blk wires. With a DVM probe the 2 terminals of the switch checking for continuity. With the switches plunger pushed in you should have continuity and with the plunger out you should get no reading.

 

I bought just the electrical part of the ignition switch off eBay from a Canada company, and they use all new parts and larger wires. I think it was like $42 shipped

 

Nub, thanks for the how-to, I will test it tomorrow. Civic-Steve-94, do you know what they called the part? I checked eBay for 1993 Civic Ignition Switch and I couldn't find just the electrical part of the switch.

 

ignition switch harness

 

http://m.ebay.com/itm/92-93-94-95-Ho...-/300318496717

 

It has been a while, but I received my replacement ignition harness today. I installed it, then charged my battery and tried to start it. Same as before, I have power, fuel pump primes, but when I turn the key it does not crank.

 

Have you tested for voltage at the starter when the key is turned to the start/crank position?

Careful when doing this, it's high current so can be lethal in the right circumstances.

 

I have not, what is the proper procedure for doing this?

 

Here's the proper way to test the starting system:




Towards the bottom of the second column on the first page where it says "test again" is how to test the operation of the starter.

These two pages will help you isolate the issue even if it's not the starter.

NOTE: Oh and not just any cheapo digital multimeter can handle a 400 Amp current test. It will fry most multimeters.

 

Thanks for the guide, I really appreciate it. I will post up my results when I get time to do this.